End of era at MichiganÂ?s Silver Beach

Berrien County will tear down Gertrude Davidson beachfront home.

Berrien County will tear down Gertrude Davidson beachfront home.

April 11, 2009|By CAROL DRAEGER Tribune Staff Writer

ST. JOSEPH -- For more than 100 years the brown bricked two-story home stood the test of tide and time. As the very last house on Broad Street, it was the gateway to Silver Beach, where the road abruptly ends into beachside sand that greets Lake Michigan. It has sat sentinel to the birth of Silver Beach's carousel and amusement park past. It outlived Shadowland's ballroom of the 1930s, the "Comet Coaster," musical Pavilion and 1944 Ferris wheel. But now the so-called Gertrude Davidson house has reached the end of its storied road. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners agreed on Thursday to tear down the large window-trimmed house, where the Gertrude Dumdei Davidson family has lived since 1905. The county acquired the home at 112 Broad St. in 1990, but allowed Gertrude to live in it until she died last August at the age of 95. Commissioner Donald Ryman, R-Buchanan, the oldest member of the board, led a near one-man crusade to preserve the home. "We're building a faux amusement park (nearby) but we can't find a way to keep part of this historical home?" Ryman asked. The county, St. Joseph city and local businesses are re-creating the carousel and other relics of the 1920s, which made Silver Beach a major destination through the 1970s. Ryman pointed out that the beach's old lighthouse was torn down and other historically rich buildings are being leveled in the name of progress in St. Joseph. "A line has to be drawn somewhere and this is that line," he said. Ryman tried to table the demolition vote, but the motion failed because no other commissioner supported him. Only commissioner Debra Panozzo, R-Stevensville, sided with Ryman, voting against demolition. The majority of commissioners agreed with the county's parks department, which said the home has asbestos problems and cannot be salvaged. Commissioner Gloria Gillespie, R-St. Joseph, who voted for demolition, said just because the home is old does not make it historical. "It wasn't connected to Silver Beach, it's just there and has asbestos," she said. Berrien County Administrator Bill Wolf said since the county acquired the home, it has been "destined" for demolition. "If we keep it, we have to spend money to bring it up to speed," he said. The county looked at possibly moving the home, but that would cost about $18,000, he said. If it were used as a summer rental by the county, the taxes alone would be prohibitive, Wolf said. "We are not insensitive. We have looked at possible solutions," he added. In the end, commissioners voted 10 to 2 to tear it down. Demolition will begin in about four weeks after the asbestos is removed. Staff writer Carol Draeger: cdraeger@sbtinfo.com (574) 807-2941